Page 109 of A Shard of Ice

Kyrie sighs. “Damon snuck me into the Ice Court through a secret entrance.”

Snow nods a few times, looking pleased with herself. “Now we are getting somewhere. You will need to show me this secret entrance.”

Kyrie’s jaw tightens for a moment before she says, “What are you going to do with me? Are you going to kill me? Or will you send me back to the salt mines?”

“You are far too valuable to do either of those things. I’m going to keep you, at least for a while. For as long as you are useful to me.” Snow shrugs.

As much as I don’t like any of this, I find I can breathe more easily with the knowledge. Kyrie is safe for now.

“More on that shortly,” Snow says. “Right now, I want to know if Elsie and Merna knew who you were. You were staying with Merna, and Elsie helped get you a position here at the castle, cleaning rooms. Were they in on this whole thing? I need to know who to punish.” Her eyes stay firmly on Kyrie. They narrow just a fraction. “I want the truth.”

I hold my breath while Kyrie speaks.

“Elsie and her family had no idea. I found out all about them from Damon.” Kyrie pauses for a moment.

I huff out a breath. Snow seems to be buying it.

“He told me enough to be able to pretend to be Sindy, Elsie’s cousin. I was welcomed with open arms. They believed everything. What are your plans for me? I’m sure there will be blood involved. I’m not going to talk, so you may as well kill me now.”

No!

What is she saying?

“I told you, you’re far too valuable, although I might maim you. Iwillget the information I need one way or the other.”

“You can do your best.”

Snow frowns. “If torturing you doesn’t work, we can start on Elsie, her children even. I mean, they don’t need all their fingers and toes, do they? I’m sure you’ll talk. Especially if I make you watch.”

Snow is cruel enough to do it. She doesn’t care about the weak or the innocent.

Snow smiles. “Your silence speaks volumes. No…no, dear Kyrie. I can’t do too much to you right now. You will be my bait. I will send word that I have you. I will make sure that everyone knows. That the news is spread far and wide. What do you think will happen when Damon hears?”

Kyrie gasps. She looks stricken for a moment, before schooling her emotions, her jaw tightening.

Snow laughs, and it sounds like pure evil. “Exactly. He will come running. He’ll come back to me and right into my arms.”

At first, Kyrie looks upset, and I can’t say I blame her. Snow plans on using her as bait. But then Kyrie squares her shoulders. She looks resolute. What is she planning? I don’t like the look on Kyrie’s face. I pray she doesn’t do anything stupid. Anything that would put her in the line of danger.

“No, he won’tcome back to you. He’ll come back to rescue me because he loves me. He hates you, Snow.”

“It’s Queen Snow to you, and he doesn’t hate me. That’s ridiculous.”

“Damon blames you for the death of his brother.” She looks across the room at the glass coffin that still houses my brother. “Believe you me, he hates you. I know Damon better than anyone. I know what I’m talking about.”

I have to hold back a sob when I really look at the coffin with Kyran still in it. He looks exactly the same. This female is sick. It’s far worse than I ever imagined. She’s keeping the corpse of her dead lover in her bedroom. She’s planning on marrying me because I remind her of Kyran.

It’s insane.

She’s coming unhinged, and now Kyrie is goading her.

Why?

To what end?

The realization hits in the next second. It leaves me reeling. No! Kakara help me. Kyrie does not intend to ever be used as bait. Kyrie won’t accept that. She’ll never let Snow use her to get to me. Kyrie would rather die. That’s her plan; she’s going to anger Snow into killing her. Thus ensuring that Snow loses her hold over me.

No, Ky!

---